Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, health and relationships.

The population reached nearly 59,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Merthyr Tydfil increased by 5.0%, from just under 56,000 to 58,800.

The addition of just over 2,800 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Merthyr Tydfil was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Merthyr Tydfil

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Merthyr Tydfil increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This industrial area had a slightly lower average age than Blaenau Gwent (one of the most statistically similar areas to Merthyr Tydfil based on ONS area classifications) (41 years of age) and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 2,100 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 14% of people in Merthyr Tydfil are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Merthyr Tydfil fell from 10% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 400 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 2,908.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Merthyr Tydfil), the proportion of people over the age of three who could speak some Welsh remained close to 12%. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More single people in Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

During this period, Merthyr Tydfil overtook Wrexham and Rhondda Cynon Taf to become the Wales local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just over one in three (35%) people aged 16 and over in Merthyr Tydfil said they were single, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 51% to 45%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership occurred in Cardiff (from 38% to 45%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that said they were single, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Wales saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12% to 7.6%.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) in Merthyr Tydfil said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 18% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 59% to 73%.

Cardiff saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad (from 10% to 6.4%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Merthyr Tydfil decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

During this period, Merthyr Tydfil overtook 17 local authority areas, including Cardiff and Isle of Anglesey, to become the Wales local authority area with the third-highest percentage of cohabiting households.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (11%) households in Merthyr Tydfil had an unmarried couple, compared with 6.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person decreased from 29% to 27%.

Blaenau Gwent saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple (from 7.1% to 10%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Merthyr Tydfil increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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